FAA TO ENFORCE 24/7 REST FOR RESERVES AT US AIRWAYS
The FAA has notified US Airways the Company is not in compliance with FAR section 121.467(B)(13)- 24-hour-in-7 day rest requirement. The cited section requires that a Flight Attendant be given a rest period of 24 consecutive hours during any seven (7) consecutive calendar days. Line holders have never been permitted to fly more than six (6) consecutive days without the required rest, however for decades US Airways has operated under the presumption that a reserve who is scheduled on duty, but who has not been given a "duty period assignment" (trip), is receiving a 24 consecutive hour break. In short, the FAA views a reserve duty day no differently than a trip assignment, and therefore, reserves will not be permitted to be on duty or fly for more than six (6) consecutive days without a 24 consecutive hour rest period.
This issue has gone back and forth between the FAA, the AFA, other Flight Attendant unions and various airlines for over a decade. On September 12, 2006 the FAA met with the Company and AFA MEC President, Mike Flores and directed the Company to comply with the FAR "expeditiously". The FAA cited numerous complaints from US Airways Flight Attendants as a partial explanation for their focus on US Airways. Within the past two years the FAA has required other airlines, notably Northwest and American, to comply with the FAR.
The FAA directive is going to have repercussions for all Flight Attendants and the Company. At the onset, the ability for reserves to use the ETB as they have in the past may be seriously jeopardized; restrictions placed on ETB pick ups for reserves may also limit the pool line holders can drop into; split trips may increase and month to month transition of reserve lines will be affected.
Our contract contains many provisions that are based on a different interpretation than the FAA is now going to require. Unfortunately, FAR language and interpretation supersede contract language.
The Union and the Company are both fully aware of the impact this directive will have on many Flight Attendants and we have agreed to work together to try to limit that impact for both the short and long-term. In order to begin complying with the FAA directive the Company has built the October reserve lines to contain no more than six (6) consecutive days on duty. Reserve line construction is the first step in the compliance process and the Company will meet with the negotiating committee and the MEC Reserve Chairperson, Sherri Baker, on Monday September 18th to begin discussions for other interim solutions.
The negotiating committee will also address the long-term impact of this directive as we negotiate the reserve section in the merged contract negotiation.
The Union is committed to ALL of our members as we react to the FAA directive.
The FAA has notified US Airways the Company is not in compliance with FAR section 121.467(B)(13)- 24-hour-in-7 day rest requirement. The cited section requires that a Flight Attendant be given a rest period of 24 consecutive hours during any seven (7) consecutive calendar days. Line holders have never been permitted to fly more than six (6) consecutive days without the required rest, however for decades US Airways has operated under the presumption that a reserve who is scheduled on duty, but who has not been given a "duty period assignment" (trip), is receiving a 24 consecutive hour break. In short, the FAA views a reserve duty day no differently than a trip assignment, and therefore, reserves will not be permitted to be on duty or fly for more than six (6) consecutive days without a 24 consecutive hour rest period.
This issue has gone back and forth between the FAA, the AFA, other Flight Attendant unions and various airlines for over a decade. On September 12, 2006 the FAA met with the Company and AFA MEC President, Mike Flores and directed the Company to comply with the FAR "expeditiously". The FAA cited numerous complaints from US Airways Flight Attendants as a partial explanation for their focus on US Airways. Within the past two years the FAA has required other airlines, notably Northwest and American, to comply with the FAR.
The FAA directive is going to have repercussions for all Flight Attendants and the Company. At the onset, the ability for reserves to use the ETB as they have in the past may be seriously jeopardized; restrictions placed on ETB pick ups for reserves may also limit the pool line holders can drop into; split trips may increase and month to month transition of reserve lines will be affected.
Our contract contains many provisions that are based on a different interpretation than the FAA is now going to require. Unfortunately, FAR language and interpretation supersede contract language.
The Union and the Company are both fully aware of the impact this directive will have on many Flight Attendants and we have agreed to work together to try to limit that impact for both the short and long-term. In order to begin complying with the FAA directive the Company has built the October reserve lines to contain no more than six (6) consecutive days on duty. Reserve line construction is the first step in the compliance process and the Company will meet with the negotiating committee and the MEC Reserve Chairperson, Sherri Baker, on Monday September 18th to begin discussions for other interim solutions.
The negotiating committee will also address the long-term impact of this directive as we negotiate the reserve section in the merged contract negotiation.
The Union is committed to ALL of our members as we react to the FAA directive.
